CITY United has faced up to the new Tamworth cricket season with a new captain, new sponsor, new drinking hole, new opening bowler and a new team to play in a new competition.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Despite the excitement around the club as it re-builds, it will be hoping to win the toss and bowl first today at Chaffey Park as it takes on Bective in a two-dayer with three of the top five batsmen out this week.
Simon Toyer has taken the reins from Pete Mead as skipper this season but will miss this weekend along with opener and keeper Dan Whale.
Both will be at weddings while first drop Ryan Hansen is out, with HSC studies taking precedent.
“With an attack like Bective has, I really hope we win the toss,” Toyer said.
Last season the side’s strength was its bowling attack, with Central North and NNSW Emu opener Jack McVey the spearhead.
This season he will have Ben Semmler at the other end with the new ball, giving an already potent attack even more sting.
Semmler formerly played for City before moving away but is back this season and hasn’t lost his touch.
“It’s great to have Ben back and supporting Jack (McVey),” Toyer said.
The side also boasts pace bowlers Dan Lawrence and Toyer, along with the crafty spin of Richie O’Halloran.
The skipper has the team focused on batting out the overs this season without worrying about run rate.
Keeper and senior player Whale said that a few games last season they really let the bowlers down with the bat.
“We bowled sides out for 120 or 130 and then lost,” Whale said. “If we can bat the 50 overs out we will at least have something to bowl at.”
Despite not having much luck at the War Veterans Cup last weekend, they are one from one in the TDCA after a last-over victory against West Tamworth in the opening round.
That victory was celebrated at the Tamworth Golf Club, the club’s new post-match venue.
The club has also been kitted out in a new strip by The Greater, which has stepped up as major sponsor this season.
Toyer said it was an exciting time for the club as it re-builds and looks to get back to one of the stronger clubs in the TDCA.
“It is a new challenge that I am looking forward to,” Toyer said.
“We have the underdogs tag again and, while sometimes that is good, it is a culture I want to abolish.”
“We have one of the best bowling attacks and now just need our batsmen to go on with it.
“That’s what we missed last season.
“I’d like to think that we can beat the top dogs this year.”
City has also stepped up to the challenge of taking on a women’s side as the TDCA brings women’s cricket back to Tamworth.
They will join North, South and Old Boys in supplying teams for a four-week trial competition.
The games will be Twenty20 format with a modified ball played over four Thursday nights in November.
Anyone interested should contact one of the clubs involved.
In other games this weekend, South will take on North at Dick Edwards Oval while premiers Old Boys will play wooden spooners West at No 1 Oval.